Trauma Information

Senate Bill 638 (2016) required the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to create a website about the trauma-informed schools initiative that includes information for schools and parents regarding the trauma-informed approach and a guide for schools on how to become trauma-informed schools.

The implementation of a trauma-informed approach is an ongoing organizational change process. A “trauma-informed approach” is not a program model that can be implemented and then simply monitored by a fidelity checklist. Rather, it is a profound paradigm shift in knowledge, perspective, attitudes and skills that continues to deepen and unfold over time. Some leaders in the field are beginning to talk about a “continuum” of implementation, where organizations move through stages. The continuum begins with becoming trauma aware and moves to trauma sensitive to responsive to being fully trauma informed.

Purpose: To ensure that agencies do no harm; to assess the implementation of basic principle of trauma-informed approaches in various organizational settings; to develop a common language and framework for discussion; and to help increase the effectiveness of services, wherever and whatever they are, by increasing awareness of trauma.

Application: To a very wide range of settings, including but not limited to behavioral health services.

Use:

*Not for formal evaluation or certification, but for informational purposes

*To help anyone who is interested (clients, advocates, other agencies, etc.) determine whether a particular agency or setting is meeting basic criteria for integration of trauma principles

*To help agencies identify where they are on the continuum and where they want to be. Organizations can choose the appropriate place on the continuum based on their needs and setting.